written in the book of life, he was cast into the lake of fire1. VI. The apocalyptic account of the day of judgment at the final consummation of all things is followed, in regular chronological succession, by a highly figured description of the glory and happiness of the Church triumphant in heaven 2. At the commencement of the Millennium, the bride of the Lamb, who had then prepared herself for her nuptials after her long state of repudiation from her mystic husband, was the Church of Judah: but, now in heaven, the bride appears, in the much more extended character of the entire Catholic Church of the redeemed comprehending alike both Jews and Gentiles 3. This addition to the character of the bride is intimated by the peculiar construction of the figurative Jerusalem. On the twelve gates of the city are written the names of the twelve tribes of Israel: but, on its twelve foundations, are inscribed the names of the twelve Apostles of the Lamb'. The beatified perfection of the Church triumphant in heaven is intimated in a strain of allegory, which St. John had already employed with reference to the Church militant upon earth. By the command of the hierophantic angel, he Rev. xx. 11-15, * See above book ii. chap. 4. § III. 3. (5.) See above book vi. chap. 8. § V. Rev. xxi. 12, 14. VOL. III. I i had, in a former vision, measured the temple of God and the altar and them that worshipped therein: but the court without the temple, by the command of the same divine messenger, he had left unmeasured; because it was given to the Gentiles, who were permitted to tread the holy city underfoot during a period of 42 prophetic months'. Such was long the condition of the Church militant upon earth: and, even in the millennian state, it is by no means wholly immaculate. For, as death, the penalty of sin and the consequent proof of the existence of sin, reigns throughout the entire thousand years, being annihilated only at the final day of judgment: so the very formation of an antichristian confederacy like that of Gog and Magog distinctly shews, that the positively evil are still more or less mingled with the imperfectly righ teous. But no such defective condition characterises the Church triumphant in heaven. The angel himself, without any exception, measures the whole frame of the allegorical Jerusalem: and he finds it to be a complete cube, equal and consistent in all its moral proportions. No part of even the entire holy city is now left unmeasured: no part of it is now consigned to a race of figurative Gentiles. The very temple itself ceases to exist: for now the 1 Rev. xi. 1, 2. 2 Rev. xx. 14. Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are become its temple 1. As this condition of the Church can only correspond with its triumphant state in heaven: so the true interpretation of the epilogue to the apocalyptic drama is put out of all doubt by the declaration of the great celestial voice, that God shall wipe away all tears from the eyes of his people ; and THERE SHALL BE NO MORE DEATH, neither sorrow, nor crying; neither shall there be any more pain; for the former things are passed away During the term of the Millennium, death still prevails for death is not annihilated until the day of that final universal judgment, which chronologically succeeds the Millennium 3. But, when, at that fixed epoch, the last great enemy (as St. Paul most accurately and consistently denominates death") shall have been destroyed: then, in the heavenly state, which chronologically follows the final universal judgment, as we are expressly assured, and as indeed results from plain necessity, THERE SHALL BE NO MORE DEATH 5. All sorrow and pain of every description will cease: and the redeemed people of God will enter upon the enjoy |